You'd Be Crazy To Miss 'Crazy For You'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
To put on a high-energy show like George and Ira Gershwin's "Crazy For You," you need a cast that can meet and then exceed expectations.
It's a play requiring a lot of singing - good singing. The play necessitates good acting, full of emotions, facial expressions and several different accents (Hungarian, New York, Western). And on top of that, "Crazy For You" has dancing, dancing and then more dancing.
All of it can leave you breathless.
Led by leads Mark Ledbetter and Lauren Robinson as Bobby Child and Polly Baker, respectively, the cast members of "Crazy For You," now at the Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre through Aug. 3, prove they can more than handle the task before them. You'll be impressed and wonder when the actors ever get time to just breathe.
"Crazy For You" is a story about the awkward path Bobby Child (Ledbetter) takes to not only fulfill his dream of being in the theater but also finding love in the confident Polly Baker (Robinson). His means of getting Polly to fall in love with him backfire, of course, but everything works out in the end. Because of Ledbetter's and Robinson's performances, you can't help but cheer that they all live happily ever after.
The theatrical presentation takes place in two locations - New York City and way west in the almost-deserted town of Dead Rock, Nev., an hour's walk from the nearest train station. In the four corners of the theater are skylines of NYC, highlighted with neon signs that light up when the characters are in the Big Apple. The actual stage features minimal wooden outlines of old western buildings - a theater, a hotel, a saloon - that lets the audience fill in the rest with their imaginations. By keeping the set to a minimum, the acting, singing and dancing can take center stage. For this play, it works wonderfully.
As the play kicks off, Bela Zangler (J. Fitz Harris), a Hungarian, and his girls are just finishing up a show. Bobby is at the theater, trying to get an audition or part in one of Zangler's shows. But when Zangler lets Bobby audition, Bobby doesn't quite put his best foot forward. Thus, Bobby's dreams are dashed for the moment. Never the quitter, though, his theatrical ambitions aren't squashed.
Meanwhile, Zangler is in love with dancing girl Tess (Andrea Wilmoth). This works as an integral plot device in the play later.
Bobby's frustrations don't end at Zangler's feet. Irene Roth (Amber Gainey Meade) wants Bobby to marry her and won't take "no" for an answer. His mother (Melissa D'Amico), who can't stand Irene any more than Bobby can, wants Bobby to work in the bank she owns. So Mother gives Bobby a choice - stay in New York with Irene or go out West to foreclose on a theater that is behind on its mortgage. It doesn't take a psychic to know which Bobby chooses, as fate has plans for the dreamer.
From the start, it's easy to sympathize with Bobby. Ledbetter plays the role perfectly and the audience won't be able to help but root for him to get his dream of being on stage. When he sings and dances with the dancing girls for the song "I Can't Be Bothered Now," Ledbetter puts so much energy into his performance, just watching him may wear a person out. Add to that his amazing voice, and there's no doubt Ledbetter is a very talented performer.
Of course, the dancing girls (Wilmoth, Kathleen Voboril, Andrea Skafish, Allison Davis, Heidi Suhr, Marisa L. Tantillo and Jennifer Dow) keep the show lively whenever they're dancing on stage. Putting in as much energy as the rest of the cast, the girls keep in step with one another and smile throughout their dance numbers when anyone else would be struggling not to pass out, much less smile. Choreographer Scott Michaels obviously knew what dancing was needed for "Crazy For You" because the dancing is a strong point for this production.
When the audience first gets introduced to the Nevada town where Bobby's life - and the lives of those around him - change, there's no doubt the townsmen are about as weary as the town. As the cowboys sing "Bidin' My Time," they're too tuckered out to get up and put any energy into it. Of course, in a town where Polly is the only female for 50 miles and the theater and post office are one and the same, it could be just pure boredom that keeps the cowboys lying around. Hats off to the actors who portray the cowboys because of the fine job they do.
During the course of the play, through Bobby's decisions and efforts because of his love for Polly, the town changes for the better. I'm not going to tell you everything, you'll have to go and see this enjoyable production of "Crazy For You."
In the Wagon Wheel's production of "Titanic," Robinson was a highlight as Kate McGowan. In "Crazy For You," she once again performs unbelievably in her acting, dancing and singing. When Robinson uses her amazing voice to sing "Someone to Watch Over Me," you'll want to be that someone. The woman has sheer talent.
There are also several other performers who make "Crazy For You" a memorable night of fun and high energy. As Lank Hawkins, the local who wants to buy the Bakers' theater and marry Polly, Nick Perry is well cast. He's funny when the role calls for it but just as tough when necessary.
As English tourists Eugene and Patricia, Jonathan Wagner and Kelly Seigh are so prim and proper in their safari gear, they're like fish out of water. It's a hoot to see them standing out against the flannel costumes of the other characters.
Musically, the songs will stick in your head for days. With classics like "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Slap That Bass" and the unforgettable "I Got Rhythm," the toes just won't stop tapping.
"Slap That Bass" is so jazzy with great choreography that images of glow-in-the-dark beads and basses will float around in your head as you find yourself snapping your fingers.
"I Got Rhythm" is now a permanent fixture in my head thanks to the great performance of that song by Robinson, Ledbetter and company. The dancing to the song incorporates a jamboree of pots and pans, flips, rag dancing and stomping with a little bit of country-western dancing for flavor. It's especially during this song that the cast seems to forget they're on stage and seems to be having a good ol' time, perhaps the time of their lives.
While Robinson makes "Someone To Watch Over Me" her own, Ledbetter does the same with "They Can't Take That Away From Me" in Act II. Artistic director Roy Hine needs to be congratulated not only for doing so well with this play, but also for casting Ledbetter and Robinson in their respective roles.
Don't be crazy, go see "Crazy For You."
For tickets or to learn more, call 267-8041, toll free 866-823-2618 or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com [[In-content Ad]]
To put on a high-energy show like George and Ira Gershwin's "Crazy For You," you need a cast that can meet and then exceed expectations.
It's a play requiring a lot of singing - good singing. The play necessitates good acting, full of emotions, facial expressions and several different accents (Hungarian, New York, Western). And on top of that, "Crazy For You" has dancing, dancing and then more dancing.
All of it can leave you breathless.
Led by leads Mark Ledbetter and Lauren Robinson as Bobby Child and Polly Baker, respectively, the cast members of "Crazy For You," now at the Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre through Aug. 3, prove they can more than handle the task before them. You'll be impressed and wonder when the actors ever get time to just breathe.
"Crazy For You" is a story about the awkward path Bobby Child (Ledbetter) takes to not only fulfill his dream of being in the theater but also finding love in the confident Polly Baker (Robinson). His means of getting Polly to fall in love with him backfire, of course, but everything works out in the end. Because of Ledbetter's and Robinson's performances, you can't help but cheer that they all live happily ever after.
The theatrical presentation takes place in two locations - New York City and way west in the almost-deserted town of Dead Rock, Nev., an hour's walk from the nearest train station. In the four corners of the theater are skylines of NYC, highlighted with neon signs that light up when the characters are in the Big Apple. The actual stage features minimal wooden outlines of old western buildings - a theater, a hotel, a saloon - that lets the audience fill in the rest with their imaginations. By keeping the set to a minimum, the acting, singing and dancing can take center stage. For this play, it works wonderfully.
As the play kicks off, Bela Zangler (J. Fitz Harris), a Hungarian, and his girls are just finishing up a show. Bobby is at the theater, trying to get an audition or part in one of Zangler's shows. But when Zangler lets Bobby audition, Bobby doesn't quite put his best foot forward. Thus, Bobby's dreams are dashed for the moment. Never the quitter, though, his theatrical ambitions aren't squashed.
Meanwhile, Zangler is in love with dancing girl Tess (Andrea Wilmoth). This works as an integral plot device in the play later.
Bobby's frustrations don't end at Zangler's feet. Irene Roth (Amber Gainey Meade) wants Bobby to marry her and won't take "no" for an answer. His mother (Melissa D'Amico), who can't stand Irene any more than Bobby can, wants Bobby to work in the bank she owns. So Mother gives Bobby a choice - stay in New York with Irene or go out West to foreclose on a theater that is behind on its mortgage. It doesn't take a psychic to know which Bobby chooses, as fate has plans for the dreamer.
From the start, it's easy to sympathize with Bobby. Ledbetter plays the role perfectly and the audience won't be able to help but root for him to get his dream of being on stage. When he sings and dances with the dancing girls for the song "I Can't Be Bothered Now," Ledbetter puts so much energy into his performance, just watching him may wear a person out. Add to that his amazing voice, and there's no doubt Ledbetter is a very talented performer.
Of course, the dancing girls (Wilmoth, Kathleen Voboril, Andrea Skafish, Allison Davis, Heidi Suhr, Marisa L. Tantillo and Jennifer Dow) keep the show lively whenever they're dancing on stage. Putting in as much energy as the rest of the cast, the girls keep in step with one another and smile throughout their dance numbers when anyone else would be struggling not to pass out, much less smile. Choreographer Scott Michaels obviously knew what dancing was needed for "Crazy For You" because the dancing is a strong point for this production.
When the audience first gets introduced to the Nevada town where Bobby's life - and the lives of those around him - change, there's no doubt the townsmen are about as weary as the town. As the cowboys sing "Bidin' My Time," they're too tuckered out to get up and put any energy into it. Of course, in a town where Polly is the only female for 50 miles and the theater and post office are one and the same, it could be just pure boredom that keeps the cowboys lying around. Hats off to the actors who portray the cowboys because of the fine job they do.
During the course of the play, through Bobby's decisions and efforts because of his love for Polly, the town changes for the better. I'm not going to tell you everything, you'll have to go and see this enjoyable production of "Crazy For You."
In the Wagon Wheel's production of "Titanic," Robinson was a highlight as Kate McGowan. In "Crazy For You," she once again performs unbelievably in her acting, dancing and singing. When Robinson uses her amazing voice to sing "Someone to Watch Over Me," you'll want to be that someone. The woman has sheer talent.
There are also several other performers who make "Crazy For You" a memorable night of fun and high energy. As Lank Hawkins, the local who wants to buy the Bakers' theater and marry Polly, Nick Perry is well cast. He's funny when the role calls for it but just as tough when necessary.
As English tourists Eugene and Patricia, Jonathan Wagner and Kelly Seigh are so prim and proper in their safari gear, they're like fish out of water. It's a hoot to see them standing out against the flannel costumes of the other characters.
Musically, the songs will stick in your head for days. With classics like "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Slap That Bass" and the unforgettable "I Got Rhythm," the toes just won't stop tapping.
"Slap That Bass" is so jazzy with great choreography that images of glow-in-the-dark beads and basses will float around in your head as you find yourself snapping your fingers.
"I Got Rhythm" is now a permanent fixture in my head thanks to the great performance of that song by Robinson, Ledbetter and company. The dancing to the song incorporates a jamboree of pots and pans, flips, rag dancing and stomping with a little bit of country-western dancing for flavor. It's especially during this song that the cast seems to forget they're on stage and seems to be having a good ol' time, perhaps the time of their lives.
While Robinson makes "Someone To Watch Over Me" her own, Ledbetter does the same with "They Can't Take That Away From Me" in Act II. Artistic director Roy Hine needs to be congratulated not only for doing so well with this play, but also for casting Ledbetter and Robinson in their respective roles.
Don't be crazy, go see "Crazy For You."
For tickets or to learn more, call 267-8041, toll free 866-823-2618 or visit online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com [[In-content Ad]]